Lift this!
Due to rising opposition to her so called "state of emergency", President Arroyo has promised to "lift the state of national emergency at the earliest possible time". Her statement came from the various people in government who have the bizarre idea that somehow, this "state of emergency" is somehow connected in some way to Martial Law back in the Marcos era…
Lets get something straight here people; in no way is this like Martial Law. For example, those people or institutions that have been directly affected by this "state of emergency" are "allowed to seek legal recourse", Rallies have not been banned, and those rallies that have started have been broken up by peaceful means. As far as I’m concerned, we still have civil liberties, there is no curfew, and I don’t hear about military personnel patrolling the streets arresting political opposition. In fact, the political opposition is having a field day by shaving their heads to oppose GMA’s "State of Emergency". This will only get them sunburned heads, odd stares when they’re in groups, and possibly significantly more or less sex (if their significant others are into that shit or not).
People need to understand that the reason why were in a "state of emergency" is because of all the shit happening in the country. We have rumored coups texed to us almost monthly that we fail to understand the full threat of what that would actually do to our nation should one actually succeed. The fact that there was an attempted one (despite it being pathetic and sad) last Friday should wake people up to the serious political breakdown that has been plaguing our country ever since WWII (Actually you can probably trace it back to when Aguinaldo basically had Bonifacio killed…bastard). Oh and lets not forget that we’re a third world country, our unemployment rate is growing, as well is the number of street children and un educated.
You want to promote freedom of speech? I’m all for that. But at the same time, lets also promote freedom from ignorance. Too many people in the Philippines fight for a cause that they only know one side of the story to. Others fight for a cause on blind faith.
You want to Promote Freedom of Speech? How about Freedom from Apathy? Too many times I find myself in a table full of intelligent people talking over beer and cigarettes about the woes of our country. Yet that is where it ends. Once the last cigarette or beer is finished we sigh and say how we cant wait to get out of this place. Others in Higher places are too busy polishing their sports cars, having affairs, or too busy watching the new season of "the Bachelor" or "the OC" to fully care about what’s going on. Be honest, when was the last time you even looked at a street child when he or she knocks on your window. We give them the knock back and turn up the music.
The fact is, were in a "state of emergency" all the time. At least once a year we hear about coup attempts (and that’s being VERY liberal), and basically we’ve been a mess since WWII (again debatable back to Aguinaldo). I would have loved to be there when god made the Philippines and man went back to god and said…"uuuh…we don’t want it…infrastructures fucked…fix it". Understand, I love my country, I want to fix it, and I want to help people. But people need to help themselves and learn…and above all, they have to want to.
"What use is freedom of speech to a person who never went to school? What will he say? Our Armed Forces have a term for state of emergency. They call it full alert. And that is what all good citizens do, be on constant full alert"
-Alejandro R. Roces
The Philippine Star 03/02/2006
